“PSC Stands by Retirement Directive, Senate Satisfied”
The Senate Committee on Police Affairs has summoned the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), DIG Hashimu Argungu (rtd), for a briefing regarding the recent directive that mandates the retirement of senior police officers. This directive applies to those who have either surpassed 35 years of service or reached the retirement age of 60.
According to Sunday Telegraph’s investigation, the interaction took place last week, giving the PSC Chairman the chance to explain and defend the decision to retire affected officers. A highly-placed source, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the committee members expressed satisfaction with the directive after reviewing relevant materials, including the Public Service Rule.
It is important to note that the PSC approved this retirement directive on January 31, 2025. The commission’s spokesperson, Mr. Ikechukwu Ani, issued a statement confirming that the PSC had revisited its earlier decision on Force Entrants’ date of appointment and concluded that the previous approach contradicted the merger of service in the public sector. In light of this, the commission affirmed the decision to retire officers who have served more than 35 years or are over 60 years old.
The PSC’s spokesperson further explained that the Commission had adhered to the Public Service Rule No 020908 (i&ii), which mandates retirement upon the completion of 35 years of service or upon reaching 60 years of age.
During the Senate meeting, the PSC Chairman presented all the necessary documentation to justify the directive, including the relevant Public Service Rules. Following his presentation, members of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs expressed their satisfaction with the decision, thus allowing the directive to stand.
Internal Tensions Over the Directive
While the PSC’s directive has received backing from the Senate, there have been reports of some internal tensions within the police leadership. A source revealed that a wireless message from the Force Secretary’s office (unverified) suggested that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) had directed the affected officers to suspend any action until further notice, potentially contradicting the PSC’s decision.
In response to this, Mr. Ikechukwu Ani, the PSC spokesperson, clarified that he did not view the IGP’s instructions as a rejection of the commission’s directive. He emphasized that the IGP’s call for officers to “hold on” until further instructions was not a countermand, and the PSC’s decision remained in effect.
The Police Service Commission, as the body responsible for the appointment, promotion, discipline, and retirement of senior officers (excluding the IGP), has asserted its authority in handling this matter. The Commission is committed to ensuring that its policies align with the Public Service Rules and are implemented for the betterment of the police force.
Despite the temporary confusion, the PSC’s directive stands, and the retirement of affected senior officers will proceed according to the commission’s ruling.
